Amanda to QUIT?

Ahead of the new series of BGT; we take a look at what's really going on behind the scenes

- ARIANA LONGSON

Filming for the next series of Britain’s Got Talent is underway, but with a new judge, rumours of feuds, talk of walking out and offers of exciting ventures elsewhere, it looks like Amanda Holden, 52, may finally have had enough. She was part of the original line-up, first appearing as a judge in 2007 with Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan, but after 16 years, could this be Amanda’s final year on the show?

Price wars

Tensions first arose some weeks ago when it was revealed that head judge Simon, 63, had enlisted former Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli to replace David Walliams. While Amanda and fellow judge Alesha Dixon, 44, had both expressed sadness at seeing David go, it was when Bruno’s salary was discussed that rumours of conflict began. Bruno, 67, is said to have received an £850,000 payday (triple his Strictly salary), something Amanda and Alesha were not impressed with. A source revealed, ‘Alesha and Amanda were deeply upset, understandably, by reports that Bruno was being signed up for more money than them. Between them they have almost three decades of experience, and are the very backbone of BGT.’ The source continued, ‘Both were fully prepared to walk if, as women, they were paid less than the men. It wasn’t about the money, more the principle. They wanted to strike out for women in the industry and ensure parity across the financial board.’

Friendships and feuds